The Lincoln Squirrel – News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

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Vander Meulen shares steps to combat Zoom-bombing

“Zoom bombing” is more widespread in Lincoln meetings than indicated in two examples in the June 11 article headlined “Anti-trans sentiment voiced at three board meetings,” but resident Allen Vander Meulen has compiled a list of steps that Zoom hosts can take to manage the problem.

“During my tenure as chair of the Housing Commission, at least four of our monthly meetings were Zoom-bombed, mostly by spammers intent on disrupting the meeting, with no clear agenda beyond that,” said Vander Meulen, a former IT manager. “I suspect most other boards and commissions have had similar level of such experiences. We quickly learned how (for the most part) to prevent Zoom bombings, and how to stop them with a minimum of disruption when they did occur.”

The problem is certainly not unique to Lincoln; meetings in other towns have also been disrupted. 

Here are Vander Meulen’s Zoom-bombing prevention steps and countermeasures, which he has also sent to Lincoln officials.

When starting a meeting:

  1. Always have a host and a co-host. I’d recommend the chair be the co-host and an administrative support person be the host. Ideally, they should not be in the same physical location. The reasons for this are:
    • If either the host or co-host go offline, the meeting will continue without interruption.
    • The co-host can run the meeting (monitoring the chat and enabling/disabling screen sharing or other features) while the host records the meeting, pays attention to security settings/issues, and keeps an eye out for potentially malicious behavior.
  1. To avoid offensive or abusive material being posted in the chat, limit chat postings by not allowing participants to send to everyone — instead, only to the host(s) and co-host(s). There is an option under the three-dot menu at the top of the Chat panel for this.
  2. Under normal circumstances, participants other than the host and co-host should only be able to mute/unmute and turn their video on/off. All other options on the Security menu should be unchecked. Those needing screen sharing or other features can have them temporarily enabled by the host or co-host, and then disabled when the need no longer exists.
  3. Consider using the waiting room feature, especially for meetings with lots of participants.
  4. The host, and preferably also the co-host, should have the Participant and Chat panels visible and quickly accessible.

While managing a meeting, the host and co-host should both know how to quickly:

  • “Lock meeting” to prevent new participants from entering — Use the option near the top of the Security menu, also found as an option under the “More” button at the bottom of the Participants panel.
  • Block a specific person from a meeting — Use the “Remove” option found in the “More” dropdown menu next to their name in the Participants panel.
  • “Hide Profile Pictures” — Use the option found near the top of the Security menu
  • “Suspend Participant Activities” — Click the menu item in red at the bottom of the Security menu.
  • Disable a participant’s video — Use the “Stop Video” option found in the “More” dropdown menu next to their name in the Participants panel, and also in the top right corner of their Zoom connection’s window in the main screen.
  • Mute a participant — the mute button is next to their name in the Participants pane, and also in the top right corner of their Zoom connection’s window in the main screen.

As a general policy, require all participants to use their full name (or phone number, for those dialing in via phone) for their profile name. Also, s a benefit to those who are hearing-impaired, the host should always allow close captioning so that participants can turn on that feature in their own Zoom sessions if needed.

Suspicious activity can include:

  • The same name appearing twice — this can happen when one person uses two connections, often because they’re having trouble with one or both.  However, it is also how hackers hide themselves by duplicating the name of a known person for their own Zoom session, especially in large meetings.
  • A sudden influx of many new names
  • Multiple attendees without video, often using out-of-area phone numbers for their profile name
  • A person changing their name multiple times
  • A silent participant who does not respond to direct requests via chat (or audio)

The menu options described above are for the Mac version of Zoom, version 5.17.5. The locations and names for these options may differ on other platforms, and Zoom also frequently modifies options or adds new ones via software updates.

TEDx Walden Pond is the talk of the town

TEDx WaldenPond speakers were (back row, left to right) Trish Kendall, Wendy Murphy, Rick Chavez, Rebecca Heiss, Eric McNulty, Jared Cox, Graham Lutz, Corinne Hancock Scott. Front row: Charley Blandy, Lauren Chaby, Seth Ettenberg, Tim Washer. Nick Morgan is lying on the rug. (Missing: Raj Sharma, Martin Moore, Gerami Groover-Flores)

A Lincoln couple recently hosted the town’s first TedX event, TedX Walden Pond, which showcased 15 speakers as well as two artistic performances.

Co-organizer Nick Morgan said he’s been a longtime fan of TED Talks, where “ideas are front and center, new voices can be heard, and the opportunity to debate interesting topics was there.” TEDx (the “x” indicates independently organized) is an offshoot program that enables local communities to host TED-like events. They’re usually named after the host town, but “TEDx Lincoln” was already taken by Lincoln, Neb.

Anyone can host a TEDx event in their hometown as long as they get approved and licensed by TedX, so Morgan and his wife Jessica Cooper started the application process a year ago and got the green light in August for the November 1 event held at the First Parish stone church. Morgan is a public speaking coach with Public Words Inc. and Cooper is a voice teacher. 

He and Cooper put out the word to their networks for potential speakers. Since the TedX brand is quite prestigious, “you immediately get overwhelmed with people who want to give talks — selecting the most promising is tough,” Morgan said. His theme was “Ripples of Thought,” which was “deliberately ambiguous,” he said. 

“The audience particularly liked Gerami Groover-Flores’ talk about the origins of the Hamilton-Garrett Center for Music & Arts in the music of the Black church in America, Trish Kendall‘s deeply moving talk on success, and SNL veteran Tim Washer‘s funny closing talk, ‘Follow the Fear,’ on self-acceptance,” Morgan said. The other speakers were:

  • Charley Blandy, expert on negotiation and corporate social responsibility and a professional singer, on our response to climate change
  • Dr. Jared Cox on shame
  • Dr. Lauren Chaby, director of scientific strategies at ALZpath, on new developments in Alzheimer’s research
  • Rick Chavez, partner at Oliver Wyman, on lessons he learned from 25 years in the technology business
  • Dr. Seth Ettenberg, chief scientific officer at BlueRock Therapeutics, on regenerative medicine
  • Dr. Rebecca Heiss on how men struggle to find their roles in modern society
  • Graham Lutz on the importance of allowing ourselves to embrace mistakes
  • Eric McNulty on the importance of working together as a community on difficult issues such as climate change
  • Martin G. Moore, producer of the “No Bullsh!t Leadership” podcast, on handling conflict
  • Wendy Murphy, adjunct professor of sexual violence law at the New England School of Law, on how women are denied equal protection under the law
  • Storyteller and educator Graham Lutz on the importance of allowing ourselves to embrace mistakes
  • “Chaos coach” Corinne Hancock Scott
  • Raj Sharma, head of The Sharma Group and a director of the Boston Foundation, on choosing wealth management as a career

Urbanity Dance performers Zoe Carey, Clare Naughton, and Josephine Schneider. Photo by Deborah J. Karson (@DeborahJKarsonPhotography on Instagram)

A highlight of the evening was “Ripples: gathered,” a performance choreographed specially for “Ripples of Thought” by Urbanity Dance, whose mission it is to bring contemporary dance to the Boston landscape. Classical guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan also performed “moving still,” an original composition, resulting in “a potpourri of people and topics, which is what TEDx wants,” Cooper said.

TED Talks are limited to 18 minutes and TEDx to just 10 minutes — a departure from when Morgan started coaching public speakers when “a 90-minute lecture was not unusual,” he said. TED Talks were “a bellwether of the times” to encourage a variety of shorter speeches in one session. 

TedX Walden Pond should be available for viewing on YouTube by the end of the year once the event company has finished editing, Morgan said.

Gov. Healey coming to Lincoln on Groundhog Day

The incomparable Ms. G.

Gov. Maura Healey will join the crowd when Ms. G, the official groundhog of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, makes her annual prediction at the Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln for Groundhog Day on Thursday, Feb. 2. Families and children attend the popular event each year, eager to watch Ms. G emerge from hibernation and explore her special enclosure, which includes groundhog treats like fresh veggies.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m., attendees can learn how animals, including Drumlin Farm’s sheep, keep themselves warm and healthy in cold weather. Ms. G will make her appearance at 10 a.m., with Mass Audubon President David J. O’Neill and State Sen. Michael Barrett, a leading voice for climate change and renewable energy on Beacon Hill, welcoming the governor and attendees. Participants will then be encouraged to enjoy other event-related programs from making groundhog crafts to meeting live animal ambassadors and learning how they adapt to winter as the climate changes. 

“The impacts of climate change and loss of biodiversity in New England are already clear,” O’Neill said. “They can only strengthen our resolve to find policy- and nature-based solutions to the major environmental challenges of our times.”              

Free with admission. To learn more, visit massaudubon.org/groundhogday. 

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Covid-19 regional vaccine clinic

There will be a Covid-19 vaccination clinic sponsored by the Town of Lincoln/Great Meadows Regional Public Health Collaborative on Friday, Nov. 18 from 4–7 p.m. in the Brooks gym at the Lincoln School. Primary and booster doses for those 6 months and older will be offered. According to the CDC, everyone 5 years and older should get an updated booster if they have completed their primary series, and if it has been at least two months since their final primary dose or last booster. Register online by clicking here. For assistance, call 978-793-5663 or email duffL@sudbury.ma.us.

Mystery-comedy: “The Alibis”

When eccentric billionaire J. Leslie Arlington is murdered, a clueless detective finds the suspects are all reluctant to admit their alibis… because they were all committing other ridiculous crimes at the time. Written by different playwrights, “The Alibis” features seven characters each telling the story of their absurd alibi in ten-minute plays. “The Alibis” will be performed by middle-school students at the Lincoln School on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. in the Donaldson Auditorium. With a cast of 22 and a crew of 21, more than a quarter of the students in grades 6-8 are involved in the show.

Tickets ($10 for adults, $5 for students/seniors/Lincoln Public Schools employees) will be sold at the door starting 30 minutes before showtime. Cash or check only. Production budgets are entirely funded by ticket proceeds.

Talk on Columbus and Thanksgiving by Claudia Fox Tree 

Claudia Fox Tree

Missing information, inaccurate stories, and stereotypes perpetuate myths about Columbus and Thanksgiving. Lincoln School teacher and social justice activist Claudia Fox Tree, a Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness board member, will give a talk on “Settler-Colonist Ties to Thanksgiving & Columbus: Taking Back the Narrative” on Monday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. She will explore this colonial system through primary sources and examine how language perpetuates invisibility and how we can dismantle oppression to bring accurate counter-narratives to life.

Fox Tree has also taught professional development and social justice courses at the college level for Initiatives for Developing Equity and Achievement for all Students (IDEAS) and presented about decolonizing anti-racism initiatives at national and local conferences. She is currently a doctoral student at Lesley University. Click here to register for the Zoom link. Sponsored by Belmont Against Racism and the public libraries of Belmont, Brookline, Chelmsford, Lincoln, Maynard, Natick, Norwood, Stow, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley, and Weston.

Holiday Wreath Happy Hour at Codman Farm

Join a wreath-making class in Codman Community Farms greenhouse on Saturday, Nov. 26 from 2–4 p.m. Using fresh evergreen branches, Codman grown dried flowers, seed pods, fruits, and foraged elements, you’ll learn how to design and make an all-natural wreath to decorate your home for the holidays. All course materials and tools provided, plus some delicious treats from our farm and local vendors. Bring a beverage of your choice. Cost: $95; click here to register. Masks optional. Questions? Email jess@codmanfarm.org.

Librarians offer kids’ book gift ideas

Do you need holiday gift book suggestions for the young readers in your life? Join the Lincoln Public Library children’s librarians on Thursday, Dec. 1 at noon as they review their favorite new books of the year as well as some perennial favorites. The event is open to all adults (feel free to share with grandparents and relatives near and far). Email dleopold@minlib.net for the Zoom link.

Program on biodiversity and climate change

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust will host a virtual program on backyard biodiversity, climate change, and solutions to a looming ecological crisis on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 7­–8:30 p.m. Headlines about global insect declines, the impending extinction of one million species worldwide, and three billion fewer birds in North America are a bleak reality check about how ineffective our current landscape designs have been at protecting the plants and animals that sustain us. The night’s focus will be on how to create backyard biodiversity in Lincoln, connect habitats throughout town, and increase resilience against climate change. A Zoom link will be sent to all participants who register here.

Tallamy is a Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. His award-winning books include Bringing Nature Home, Nature’s Best Hope, and The Nature of Oaks.

Flashlight candy cane hunt

Grab your flashlight and search for hundreds of candy canes hidden around Pierce Park on Friday, Dec. 9 from 6–7 p.m. Participants will start off the event by decorating a candy cane bag while music and hot cocoa are available. Then we’ll get our flashlights and head into the park to hunt for candy canes. Keep your eye out because you may even find a special candy cane with a prize-winning ribbon! Bring your own flashlight. Free, but online preregistration with the Parks and Recreation Department is required.

Steve Hoffman

Hoffman tapped as CEO of Rova

Lincoln resident Steve Hoffman has been named CEO of Rova, an on-demand delivery platform that connects drivers to businesses. Hoffman was the initial chair of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission from 2017 to April 2022. He has also served as the CEO of two venture capital-backed technology companies, a Senior Vice President at CSC Index (Computer Science Corp.), and an Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Sapient.

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“On Belonging in Outdoor Spaces” speaker on Nov. 10

Join the Fall 2021 continuation of the “On Belonging” speaker series with “N’Sibo: the River to Which I Belong” featuring Rich Holschuh via Zoom on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.

The concept of “indigeneity” denotes the original people of a place. This is not a dualistic relationship but rather an understanding that the people are the land and the land is the people, including all of our relations. Holschuh will explore principles of relationship, reciprocity, and responsibility, along with an examination of how these ways of being have been embraced or rejected in the Northeast, along with the implications. Visit www.onbelongingoutdoors.org to learn more and register to receive the Zoom link.

Holschuh is a resident of Wantastegok (Brattleboro, Vt.) and an independent historic and cultural researcher. He has served on the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs and is a public liaison and tribal historic preservation officer for the Elnu Abenaki Tribe, members of the contemporary Indigenous community in Vermont. Rich is founder and director of the Atowi Project. His work draws on indigenous history, linguistics, geography, and culture to share beneficial ways of seeing and being in relationship with place.

This is a free program. Fall funding provided by The Sudbury Foundation. This speaker series is hosted by Farrington Nature Linc, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Mass Audubon, Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, The Food Project, The Walden Woods Project. 

Sen. Barrett to speak on Mass. climate bill

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust invites everyone to attend a Zoom meeting with state Sen. Mike Barrett on Monday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. In “We Got a Climate Bill for Massachusetts. Now What?” he’ll talk about the far-reaching climate bill that became law in Massachusetts this spring, what needs to be done to make sure it is fully implemented, and what concerned citizens in Lincoln can do to help. There will be time for Q&A. Click here to register for the Zoom link.

The LLCT’s mission includes helping Lincolnites learn more about climate change and what they can do about it. This presentation is co-sponsored by the First Parish in Lincoln Green Committee, St. Anne’s Climate Justice Ministry, and Lincoln Mothers Out Front. 

Session on talking to kids about invisibility of Native Americans

The Lincoln METCO Parent Board will host “Talking to Kids About Stereotypes and Invisibility of Indigenous Native Americans,” the second Diversity and Dialogue event honoring Native American Heritage Month on Wednesday, Nov. 17 from 6–7:30 p.m. Missing information and misinformation about the First Nations people of the Americas has made stereotypes hyper-visible and truths invisible. The journey of un-erasing Indigenous voices and learning what we were not taught or mistaught starts with accurate information. It continues by having conversations with families, friends, community members, and our children. Understanding tribal land acknowledgements is a next step in making Indigenous voices visible. Join Lincoln School teacher Claudia Fox Tree as she confronts “invisibility” and implicit bias, while focusing on how to engage children through books, videos, and conversations. A resource list with books and links to videos and articles will be provided. Click here to join the Zoom meeting (passcode: 994150).

Make holiday wreaths at Codman farm

Using fresh evergreen branches, Codman-grown dried flowers, seed pods, fruits, and foraged elements, you will learn how to design and make a beautiful, all-natural wreath to decorate your home for the holidays. We’ll provide all course materials and tools needed, plus some delicious treats from our farm and local vendors. Bring a beverage of your choice and we’ll provide the rest!

Due to high demand, there will be two workshop dates: Saturday, Nov. 27 from 2–4 p.m. or Saturday Dec. 7 from 2–4 p.m. No experience necessary, though the class is best suited for adults and teens. Please bring a mask; class will be held in the greenhouse. Cost is $95 per participant. Sign up on the CCF events page. Questions? Email jess@codmanfarm.org.

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George Floyd commemoration on Tuesday

Lincoln School fifth-grader Olin Teksten is organizing a “Layers of Love” commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd on Tuesday, May 25 from 4:30–5:30 p.m. in Pierce Park. Students, families and the community will form a big heart holding cards that will be handed out. The formation will be captured via aerial photo with the help of the Lincoln Fire and Police Departments. There will also be a brief vigil with speakers including children, and nine minutes and 30 seconds of silence to reflect. Anyone who would like to volunteer or has more ideas may email layersoflovelincoln@gmail.com.

Farmer’s market seeks vendors

The Lincoln farmer’s market operated for 30 years by Lindentree Farm will now take place on Saturdays from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at Lincoln Station (the grassy area in front of the restaurant) starting Saturday, June 5. Bill Huss and Tom Flint of the Lincoln Lands Farmer’s Market hope to open up the event to more people to get people outdoors after a challenging year and are recruiting vendors. They will help set up your stand at no charge and welcome vendors selling food but also antiques, arts and crafts, books, clothing, or anything creative. Earnings can be kept or given to a local charity, as many opt to do. For more information, email Huss at billhuss53@gmail.com or Flint at the_flint@hotmail.com.

Session on PFAS and drinking water

On Thursday, June 3 at 7 p.m., MetroWest Climate Solutions will host a discussion on PFAS, a class of toxic chemicals found in everyday products and drinking water. For more information and to register for the webinar, visit metrowestclimatesolutions.org.

Speakers will include Dr. Laurel Schaider, senior scientist at the Silent Spring Institute, and Laura Spark, senior policy advocate for Clean Water Action. The session will be moderated by Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts State Director at Clean Water. They will discuss the health problems that PFAS can cause, the products they are typically used in, how they get into drinking water, and how people in MetroWest can try to reduce their exposure. The session will also explore legislation pending in Massachusetts to eliminate PFAS from consumer products such as food packaging.

MetroWest Climate Solutions is a partnership between First Parish in Wayland, First Parish Church in Weston, First Parish in Lincoln, the Congregational Church of Weston, and other communities and individuals. Its mission is to share strategies for moving towards a low- and no-carbon-based society and economy and to suggest activities that enable individuals to help bring about solutions.

This may be a bad year for Lyme disease

By Rhea Karty

(Editor’s note: Karty, a Lincoln resident, is a senior at Lincoln-Sudbury who has always been interested in biology, particularly diseases and ecology. “After taking biology and AP biology, I wanted to continue to broaden my understanding and look into some practical applications,” she said. “Lyme disease was really meaningful to me because many of my friends and coaches from cross-country and school have had scary experiences with it. So I worked with my former biology teacher (Ms. Shopiro) to develop an independent study curriculum where I studied the ecology, immune response, treatments, and microbiology of Lyme, and I interviewed some doctors and community members. Now I’m doing some projects to spread awareness.”

Acorns and mice and ticks — oh my!

With the onset of spring comes the bane of New England: Lyme disease. Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, other diseases may have slipped off our radar, but Mother Nature is not so quick to give us a break. In fact, there may be a significant uptick in Lyme disease cases this year due to a bumper crop of acorns.

Oak trees operate in cycles: they naturally have years where they produce blankets of acorns and others where they have very few. As you may have noticed, 2019 was a particularly plentiful year for acorns in suburban New England, called a mast crop These blankets of acorns are great for wildlife and rodents, but also provide a building block for Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria and is transmitted to humans through the bite of black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis), sometimes known as deer ticks. The ticks pick it up from mice and other small rodents that are already infected with the bacteria.

Ticks feed three times in their life. In their larval stage just after they hatch from eggs, they bite and drink the blood of mice and small rodents. This is when they potentially become infected with Lyme disease. (Surprisingly, even though they are called deer ticks, they don’t actually get Lyme disease from deer.) Once a tick picks up Lyme disease, it will carry it for the rest of its life and is able to transmit it to humans.

In the next two years of a tick’s life, it will bite once or twice more. This is when humans can get the disease.

Our ecosystem operates in harmony, where changes in one section cascade to other areas. The plethora of acorns from the mast year provides plenty of food for the rodent population, which will then cause a higher population of infected ticks for the next one to two years, so, the acorn mast year in 2019 will be felt this year with increased ticks.

An illustration of how Lyme disease is transmitted between species (click to enlarge). Image courtesy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

With indoor restrictions on gatherings still in place, we’re all hoping for an active outdoor spring. However, as kids go outside to play and families begin to start biking and walking in the woods, we should be aware that Lyme disease will be particularly bad this year and must keep an eye out for the symptoms. Here are a few things you can do to stay protected:

Dress — wear light-colored clothes, long pants, high socks, and bug spray, especially when venturing off trail.

Environment — Consider spraying for ticks or other remedies like tick tubes, essential oils, chickens, keeping deer out of your yard, maintaining a well-kept yard, and staying away from the edge of the woods.

Awareness — check for ticks after going outside. If a tick is pulled out within a short period of time, Lyme disease may be avoided. Make sure you have all the parts of the tick, including the eight legs and head.

If Lyme disease is caught and treated early, the worst effects can be prevented with antibiotics, so keep an eye out and be prepared. For more information about Lyme disease and symptoms, visit www.cdc.gov/lyme or www.mass.gov/service-details/lyme-disease.

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

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Holy Week at St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Church

Palm Sunday (March 28)

  • 8 a.m. — In-person Holy Eucharist (click here to register)
  • 10 a.m. — Live-streamed Holy Eucharist
  • 5 p.m. — Outdoor firepit service (click here to register)

Maundy Thursday, April 1

  • 7:30 p.m. — Live-streamed Holy Eucharist

Good Friday, April 2

  • 12 p.m. — Live-streamed Service
  • 5 p.m. — Outdoor service (click here to register)

Holy Saturday, April 3

  • 10 a.m. — Live-streamed morning prayer
  • 10 p.m. — Live-streamed Service of Light

Easter Sunday, April 4

  • 9 a.m. — Live-streamed Holy Eucharist
  • 11 a.m. — Holy Eucharist with choir in the parking lot
 

Farrington offers nature-themed programs

Join Farrington Nature Linc and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust on Thursday, April 22 from 2–­3 p.m. via Zoom for “Owls Up Close,” a virtual version of “Eyes on Owls.” Naturalists Marcia and Mark Wilson will introduce everyone to six live owls up close and personal, followed by some owl call practice with a hooting lesson. They’ll highlight the owls’ unique adaptations, habitats, and behaviors in the wild, while sharing tips on how you can look for owls yourself. All are welcome at this family friendly program. Register here to receive the Zoom link. This is a free program, but donations are encouraged and help us bring this program to the community. Viewers may purchase copies of Mark’s book, Owling (signed and personalized by the author) by emailing eyesonowls@earthlink.net.

Join award-winning producer, film composer, and author Ruth Mendelson of Lincoln to discuss her new book, The Water Tree Way, on Thursday, April 22 from 7–8:15 p.m. The main character Jai (pronounced “Jay”), filled with spunk, stealth, and courage, leaves everything she’s known to embark on a hair-raising journey. A 240-page children’s book intended for readers of all ages, the story exalts the triumph of the human spirit as experienced by a girl who can be none other than her unabashed self. Register here.

Upcoming talks in “On Belonging in Outdoors Spaces” series

Artist Evelyn Rydz will speak on “Close Attention: Exploring a Creative Practice Inside and Outside the Studio” on Wednesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. Exploring the vulnerability and the resiliency of natural and cultural ecosystems, Rydz invites viewers and participants of her projects to imagine a different future — one shaped by our connections and care for local and global communities. Her talk is part of “On Belonging in Outdoors Spaces,” a free virtual speaker series featuring prominent speakers whose are advancing efforts to strengthen belonging and connection between communities of color and the benefits of time in nature.

Also in the series:

  • Monica White, author of Freedom Farmers: Agricultural Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement, on Wednesday, May 12 at 7 p.m.
  • J. Drew Lanham, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Master Teacher at Clemson University, on “Coloring the Conservation Conversation” on Wednesday, June 2 at 7 p.m. Dr. Lanham will highlight what it means to embrace the full breadth of his African-American heritage and his deep kinship to nature and adoration of birds. He will discuss how conservation must be a rigorous science and evocative art, inviting diversity and race to play active roles in celebrating our natural world.

Register here and get more information about the presentations and speakers. The series is organized by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Farrington Nature Linc, The Food Project, Mass Audubon, and The Walden Woods Project. Additional support is provided by the Ogden Codman Trust, the Lincoln Garden Club, and the Bemis Free Lecture Series.

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Program offers film, panel, and group discussions on racism

The Lincoln METCO Coordinating Committee and Sudbury Community for Racial and Social Justice is hosting a 90-minute feature documentary screening of “I’m Not Racist… Am I?” and other subsequent events. All those who live, work, attend school, or have a connection to Lincoln or Sudbury may watch the film online as a diverse group of teens and their families go through a yearlong exploration of race and racism. The effort also focuses on the courageous voices of young people and provides Lincoln, Sudbury, and Boston METCO families with a forum for working together on local race-related issues.

The screening will run from Saturday, Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. through Monday, March 1 at noon. On Wednesday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m., the Organizing Committee and Point Made Learning (the film’s producer) will host a virtual discussion with a panel of people from the Lincoln, Sudbury, and Boston communities, asking them questions and using the film content as a springboard for dialogue on race and identity. In addition to the film viewing and the panel event, there will be an opportunity for community members to sign up to participate in facilitated small group discussions based on the movie.

Sponsors include the Sudbury Foundation, the Ogden Codman Trust, the First Parish of Lincoln, the Bemis Free Lecture Series, the Lincoln Public Schools, WIDE, the Sudbury Public Library and anonymous donors. All events are free but registration is required. The small group discussions are only for those who live, work, or go to school in Lincoln or Sudbury

Session for parents of rising L-S freshmen

Will your eighth-grader be a Lincoln-Sudbury freshman next year? Might it be helpful to connect with Lincoln parents whose students have made this same transition, both before and during the Covid era? Tune into “Life at L-S: A Parent-to-Parent Conversation About the 8th-to-9th Grade Transition” on Tuesday, March 2 at 7–8:30 p.m. via Google Meet. Featuring Lincoln School Principal Sharon Hobbs and L-S veteran parents panelists, along with L-S administrators. The program will focus on all the co-curricular elements of a high-schooler’s life so families have contextual knowledge that supports the LS course selection process in March. To RSVP and/or to pre-submit panelist questions, email Hobbs at shobbs@lincnet.org. For more information, contact Carole Kasper at carolemkasper@gmail.com.

Nature sketching classes offered

Farrington Nature Linc is hosting a virtual three-session nature sketching series starting on Tuesday, March 2. Each week, we’ll meet via Zoom with artist and teacher Alex Boersma, a freelance scientific illustrator and designer from Toronto, to learn how to draw natural objects we’ve collected throughout the week. We’ll improve our observational drawing skills while exploring new media: first graphite, then pen and ink, and finally watercolor. No experience necessary.

Classes will meet Tuesday evenings from 6–8 p.m. (the final workshop will go until 9 p.m.). You may attend a single workshop or all three; however, the skills taught in each workshop will build on one another, so organizers recommend signing up for all three. Register online via Eventbrite. The supply list will be emailed once you’re registered for the class (please be sure you have acquired the necessary materials ahead of the workshop).

Talk on Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman

Join a Zoom talk on “Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman: A Creative Kinship” on Wednesday,  March 17 at 7 p.m. Edith Wharton’s first published work was not a novel, but a design manual that she co-authored with Lincoln native Ogden Codman, Jr., The Decoration of Houses, which was destined to become an interior design classic. Using original letters from Historic New England’s Codman archival collection, this illustrated talk offers an inside peek into Wharton’s and Codman’s 40-year artistic friendship. Advance registration required on this HNE web page or call 617-994-6651. Free to Lincoln residents via a 2021 Lincoln Cultural Council grant. Historic New England members: $15. Non-members: $20. Program partners for this event are the Lincoln Public Library and the Council on Aging.

Council on Aging activities

  • Lincoln Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean will conduct her regular “Chats with the Nurse” via Zoom for residents of all ages on Wednesdays, March 3 and 17 at 11 a.m.  Bring your questions about Covid-19 and other issues, and McGean will share the latest updates. Preregister by calling 781-259-8811 x102 or emailing gagnea@Lincolntown.org to get the Zoom invite.
  • The Council on Aging invites seniors to a drive-up ice cream sundae cup event on Tuesday, March 16 in the parking lot of the First Parish Church. Please help stagger arrivals by coming at the time that corresponds to your last name (A–G, arrive from 12-12:45 p.m.; H–R, arrive from 12:45-1:30 p.m.; S–Z, arrive from 1:30-2 p.m.). Ice cream sundae cups generously sponsored by the Friends of the COA.
  • The COA welcomes seniors who want to connect in March with an L-S student via a weekly conversation via Zoom, phone, or letter. Students sign up to have a weekly conversation with a senior and they receive school credit. After seniors fill out this Connections survey to make their preferences known as to dates and times, they will be matched with a high school student. For more information, visit www.connections01773.org. This third Connections series will take place over four weeks beginning the week of March 15. Questions? Email Amy Gagne at gagnea@lincolntown.org.
  • To support people who are struggling with isolation and loneliness during this difficult time, Advocates for Human Potential (AHP) has adapted their evidence-based Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to produce a special publication that addresses isolation and loneliness. The Wellness Guide to Overcoming Isolation During COVID-19: Being Connected, Staying Connected, and Choosing Connection is available to everyone online, and the Council on Aging has a limited number of free print copies. The guide can help you engage in connection activities with others and in online support groups. For more information to receive the WRAP Up monthly newsletter, please email mjaffe@ahpnet.com.

Most Lincoln Council on Aging events are open to Lincoln residents of all ages. For a full list — including clinics, exercise classes, regular meetings of interest groups, and online chats with town officials — see the COA’s calendar page or March newsletter. Contact the COA at 781-259-8811 or gagnea@lincolntown.org for Zoom links to events.

News acorns

Library offers Boredom Buster Book Bundles, bingo, upcycling

Are you looking to keep your kids entertained this vacation week? We’ve got you covered! Fill out this quick form and you’ll get a bag of librarian-picked books. Your bag will include a variety of books: craft, cooking, game/activity, science experiment, plus a family movie and a read-aloud book. To help the library accommodate as many families as possible, we’ve packed these bags to have something for all ages. Pickup will be at the library starting Tuesday, Feb. 16. 

On Monday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m., join in an evening of bingo for children of all ages with everybody’s favorite bingo caller, Sally K. The whole family can play at home over Zoom. Registrants will receive a printable bingo card, and there will be prizes awarded. Email dleopold@minlib.net to register and receive the Zoom link.

On Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m., librarian Sarah will host a virtual combination craft/upcycling program, using old CD cases to make cool CD case gardens. Bryn Gingrich from the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust will discuss recycling in Lincoln, and share other upcycling ideas. Intended for ages 5+ — please email sfeather@minlib.net to register. and get the Zoom link. Craft supplies will be available in the library vestibule.

Drive-through ice cream sundaes for seniors and grandkids

The Council on Aging invites seniors, grandparents and grandchildren to an intergenerational drive-up ice cream sundae cup event on Tuesday, Feb. 16 in the parking lot of the First Parish Church. Please help stagger arrivals by coming at the time that corresponds to your last name (A–G, arrive from 12-12:45 p.m.; H–R, arrive from 12:45-1:30 p.m.; S–Z, arrive from 1:30-2 p.m.).

Lincoln author event on Feb. 22

Join award-winning producer, film composer, and author Ruth Mendelson of Lincoln to discuss her new book, “The Water Tree Way,” on Monday, Feb. 22 at noon. The main character Jai (pronounced “Jay”), filled with spunk, stealth and blazing courage, leaves everything she’s known to embark on a journey that would be hair-raising for anyone. A 240-page children’s book intended for readers of all ages, the story exalts the triumph of the human spirit as experienced by a girl who can be none other than her unabashed self. To learn more and read reviews, including Jane Goodall’s video endorsement, visit www.TheWaterTreeWay.com. Please call the COA 781-259-8811, if you would like to pick up an author’s copy of the book (there are a limited number of copies). Click here for the Zoom link.

Event explores healthy masculinity

Rickie Houston

The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable is presenting “A Call to Families: Discussing Healthy Masculinity with Young People” on Tuesday, March 9 from 7–8:30 p.m. The keynote speaker is Rickie Houston, director of training for A Call to Men, an organization that works to transform society by promoting healthy, respectful manhood. Houston, a U.S. Army veteran, is pastor of a church in North Carolina, has worked to end violence against women in West Africa and has also worked with professional athletes. He’ll speak about the importance of boys being able to show their emotions and the significance of teaching them about healthy masculinity at an early age. Breakout sessions will run after his talk.

To register for the event, click here. For more information, call Sue Rushfirth at 978-443-0782, email infodvrt@gmail.com, or visit www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org.